SOCCER NEWS from Big Apple Soccer

With the imminent departure of midfielder Dema Kovalenko and forward Francis Doe, the Red Bulls have more than $800,000 in salary cap opened up.

The MLS salary cap rose $200,000 per team to $2.3 million this season.

Seven players -- non-developmental players -- have left the team since the end of last season. Their salaries totalled $843,387. That's assuming Clint Mathis' was $100,000 as reported, which the MLS club picked up from his $410,000 total salary after his trade from the Colorado Rapids.

The freed-up money doesn't include salary increases for players who have signed new contracts. For example, defender-midfielder Seth Stammler likely received a raise from his $30,870 he earned last season.

The seven players who have left the team since the end of last season, via trade, waivers or retirement:

* Ronald Waterreus $200,000

* Markus Schopp $175,000

* Dema Kovalenko $197,375

* Santino Quaranta -- $105,312.50

* Clint Mathis -- $100,000

* Francis Doe -- $48,000

* Elie Ikangu -- $17,700

That would free up the acquisition of a few new players. Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio said he would like to have some new players by the time the team returns home from its Salzburg, Austria training trip March 7.

If defender-midfielder Dave van den Bergh ($214,583.33) can be moved, then the Red Bulls will have more than a $1 million to spend under the salary cap.